Video Device Accessory

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a multi-functional accessory that can acts as a case for transporting an earphone and as a stand for holding a smart cellphone or MP3 player with a display in a landscape or portrait orientation for viewing. The accessory includes a clam shell style housing comprising an upper case and a lower case pivotally connected together along one end with an earphone holding structure mounted on the inside surface on the lower case. The upper case includes two upper side arms and a lower resting lip that extends perpendicularly outward. The lower case includes an integrally formed transverse structure with two axles extending laterally into two bores form in the arm of the upper base to enable the upper and lower cases to snap fit together and pivot approximately 270 degrees. An earphone holding structure is attached to the lower case and fits into the space formed between the upper case and the lower case when closed.

This is a continuation patent application of U.S. patent application(application Ser. No. 13/372,867) filed on Feb. 14, 2012.

Notice is hereby given that the following patent document containsoriginal material which is subject to copyright protection. Thecopyright owner has no objection to the facsimile or digital downloadreproduction of all or part of the patent document, but otherwisereserves all copyrights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention:

This invention pertains to portable multi-functional accessories forsmartphones or MP3 players with large displays, and particularly to suchaccessories that store an earphone and can be adjusted to hold thesmartphone or MP3 player in a diagonally upright position on ahorizontal surface for optimally viewing the display.

2. Description of the Related Art:

Many individuals spend considerable amount of time viewing the displayson their smartphones and MP3 players. When moving or standing, thedevices are typically held in the individual's hand. When sitting orstanding at one location for long periods, many individuals will leanand temporarily rest the device against a wall or a vertical supportsurface to diagonally align the device's display for optimal and handsfree viewing. Unfortunately, a vertical support surface is not alwaysavailable. Also, the height of a vertical support surface and thefrictional forces between the device and the vertical and horizontalsurfaces may be insufficient causing the device to repeatedly fall over.

Most smartphones and MP3 players are sold with lightweight earphonesthat typically have a single, long (approx. 24 inches in length) dualchannel main wire connected to two shorter branching ear plug wires.Attached to the end of each ear plug wire is an ear plug designed to fitcomfortably in the user's external ear canal. Attached to the oppositeend of the main wire is an earphone input plug designed to connect tothe device's audio output jack.

One problem with the lightweight earphones sold with smartphones and MP3players is that the main wire and branching ear plug wires becometangled when placed in a pocket or purse. Also, the protective foam capscommonly used on the ear plugs can be dislodged and lost. As a result,many individuals elect not to carry an earphone when traveling.

Another problem with lightweight earphones is that when connected to theaudio output jack on a smartphone or MP3 player,(hereinafter known as adisplay device) and when the display device is leaned against a verticalsupport surface for hands free viewing, the movement of the user's headexerts a tugging force on the earphone causing the display device it tobe repeatedly fall over.

What is needed is a compact, multi-functional accessory that includes anstand component can be used to hold a smartphone or MP3 player in ahands-free, diagonal upright position on a horizontal surface forviewing videos on the device, and an earphone storage component for alightweight earphone that enables the earphone to be stored when not inuse and easily removed and used with the device when placed on the standcomponent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein is a multi-functional accessory that acts both as acompact earphone carrying case and a display stand. The accessory isdesigned to be configured into a small, compact configuration fortransporting an earphone in the user's pocket or pulse. Earphone isstored inside the inner cavity formed with the accessory is closed. Whenthe accessory is opened, it may be a display stand. When desired, theaccessory may be selectively manipulated into an extended, openconfiguration for holding a display device in diagonal, hands-freeposition on a horizontal surface. One advantage to the invention is thatthe earphone may remain in a stored configuration when the accessory isa display stand.

More specifically, the accessory includes a clam shell-style housingcomprising an upper case and a lower case pivotally connected togetheralong two adjacent ends. Mounted on the inside surface of the lower caseis replaceable earphone holding structure that enables the user totightly wrap and store a standard earphone inside the inner cavityformed when the upper and lower cases are closed. The upper caseincludes a main panel with two parallel side walls. Formed on the lowerend of the main panel is a transversely aligned lower lip and extendssubstantially perpendicularly and outward from the main panel's insidesurface. The opposite ends of the lower lip are open thereby forming acontinuous slot capable of receiving the lower or side edges of adisplay device. Formed on the opposite side of the main panel is a topopening surrounded by the two side walls extend upward and surround thetop opening thereby forming two parallel side arms with two axle boresformed on their inside surfaces.

The lower case includes a hollow, upper transverse structure with twolaterally extending axles that snap fit into the two axle bores formedon the two side arms. After assembly, the two axle bores and the twoaxles pivotally connect the upper case and lower case together. Thewidths of the top opening formed on the upper case and the width andheight of the transverse structure on the lower case allow the uppercase and lower case to pivot between a closed position and an openedopen position. The top opening and the transverse structure are alsoconfigured to allow the upper case and the lower case to pivotapproximately 270 degrees enabling the display device to be configuredinto an inverted V-shaped configuration on a horizontal surface.Optional pegs and peg holes are formed on the adjoining surface of theside arms and the ends of the transverse structure that enable the casesto be temporarily locked together in the closed or opened positions.

When the accessory is used as a hands-free display stand, the upper andlower cases may pivot apart to an opened position to form an invertedV-shaped structure with the upper and lower cases being diagonallyaligned. A display device may be rotated in either a landscape orportrait orientation and placed against the upper case's main panel andin the slot formed on the lower lip.

The means for storing the earphones is an exchangeable earphone holdingstructure designed to fit into the inner cavity formed between the uppercase and the lower case when closed. The earphone holding structureincludes an upper flange surface that is spaced apart and substantiallyparallel to the lower case's main panel. Attached or integrally formedon the upper flange surface and perpendicularly aligned with the insidesurface of the lower case is a cord wrapping frame. During use the mainand branching cords on an earphone is then wrapped around the cordwrapping frame. Formed on the upper flange surface are two recessed earbud resting cavities and ear plug cavity that reduces the overall heightprofile of the earphone when wrapped on the earphone holding structure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the multi-functional video deviceaccessory shown in an opened configuration and holding a display devicein the diagonally aligned upper base and the lower base holding anearphone.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the multi-functional deviceaccessory shown in a closed configuration and holding an earphone.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the display device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the multi-functional display deviceaccessory shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the accessory shown in FIG. 2 in aclosed configuration.

FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view of the accessory shown in FIGS. 2 and5.

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the accessory shown in FIGS. 2, 5and 6.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the accessory.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the earphone holding structure.

FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of the earphone holding structure.

FIG. 11 is a right side elevational view of the earphone holdingstructure.

FIG. 12 is a left side elevational view of the earphone holdingstructure

FIG. 13 is a rear side elevational view of the earphone holdingstructure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Referring to the accompanying FIGS. 1-13, there is shown amulti-functional accessory 10 that acts as a small, portable, videodevice stand and an earphone case when disposed in an open configurationas shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 and acts as a compact earphone carryingcase as shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6.

When the accessory 10 is manipulated into an open configuration, theupper case 20 is diagonally aligned to support a device 90 for optimalviewing. When the accessory 10 is manipulated into a closedconfiguration, the earphones 100 located inside the accessory 10 isprotected and the overall size of the accessory 10 is reduced for easyportability in the user's pocket or pulse.

More specifically, the accessory 10 includes a clam shell-style housing12 comprising an upper case 20 and a lower case 40 pivotally connectedtogether along one end with a replaceable earphone holding structure 60mounted on the inside surface on the lower case 40. As shown moreclearly in FIG. 8, the upper case 20 is a planar structure that includesa main panel 22, two inward extending side walls 24, 26. The main panel22 is shorter than the two side walls 24, 26, and thereby forming a widetop opening 28 surrounded by two parallel side arms 30, 34. Formed onthe opposite end of the main panel 22 is a transversely aligned restinglip 36 that extends substantially perpendicular to the main panel 22.When the housing 12 is disposed in a closed position, the resting lip 36forms an end surface. When the housing 12 is disposed in an openposition, the resting lip 36 forms a continuous slot capable ofreceiving the lower or side edge of a device 90. Formed on each side arm30, 34 is an axle bore 31, 35, respectively.

The bottom case 40 is also a planar structure and includes main panel 42with a hollow, upper transverse structure 44. Formed ends of thetransverse structure 44 are two laterally extending axles 50 52 thatsnap fit into the two axle bores 31, 35 formed the upper case's sidearms 30, 34, respectively. The upper case 30 includes a top opening 28in which the transverse structure 44 is inserted to pivotally connectthe upper case and lower case together. The size of the transversestructure 44 is sufficient so it does not touch or interfere with adisplay device 90 placed against the upper case 20. In the preferredembodiment, the width and height of the transverse structure 44 issufficient so the upper and lower cases 20, 40 when connected togethermay to pivot approximately 270 degrees between a closed, planarconfiguration to open configuration as shown in FIG. 3. When pivoted toan open position, the upper case 20 and lower case 40 are diagonallyaligned and converge along a top edge to support a video device 90oriented in portrait orientation or in a landscape orientation as shownin FIG. 1.

The earphone holding structure 60 is designed to fit into the space 38formed between the upper case 20 and the lower case 40 when disposed ina closed. As shown more clearly in FIGS. 8-13, the earphone holdingstructure 60 includes an upper flange surface 62 that is substantiallyparallel to the main panels 22 and 42 on the upper and lower cases 20,40, respectively. Attached or integrally formed on the upper flangesurface 62 and perpendicularly aligned with the inside surface of thelower case 40 is a cord wrapping frame 64. Formed on the upper flangesurface 62 are two ear bud resting cavities 68, 72 each configured toreceive and hold an earplug 102, 106, respectively. Each ear bud cavity68, 72 communicates with an elongated, recessed ear plug stem cavity 69,73, each designed to receive the elongated ear plug stem 103, 107,respectively. The end of each cavity 69, 73 terminates and the outsideedge of the upper flange surface 62.

Disposed between the two stem cavities 69, 73 is a main cord plug cavity75 designed to receive the elongate main plug 110 attached to the end ofthe main earphone wire 105. During use, one or two ear plugs 102, 106are inserted into the ear bud cavities 68, 72, respectively. The earplug stems 103, 107 are then pressed into the ear plug stem cavities 69,73, respectively. The ear plug branch wires 106 and 108 are then wrappedin one direction around the cord wrapping frame 64. The main earphonecord 105 is also wrapped around the cord wrapping frame 64 and the mainplug 110 is then inserted into the main cord plug cavity 75.

In one embodiment, the earphone holding structure 60 is designed to bereplaceable to accommodate different earphones with different styles andsizes of ear plugs. Connection tabs 54, 55, 56 are formed on the insidesurface of the lower case's main panel 42 that engage complimentaryshaped slots 120, 122, 124, respectively, formed on the earphone holdingstructure 60 to hold the earphone holding structure 60 on the insidesurface of the main panel 42. The earphone holding structure 60 may beremoved and replaced by an alternative earphone holding structuredesigned to be used with another type of earphone.

In one embodiment, the housing 12 is made of plastic and measuresapproximately ⅝ inches in height, 2-½ inches in length, and 1 -¾ inchesin width. In one embodiment, optional gripping pads 120 and 125 areattached the lower ends or the upper case and an lower case to increasethe frictional forces to hold the housing in an open configuration onhorizontal surface. Also, optional holes 36, 37 and pegs 46, 47 may beformed on the adjacent surfaces of the side arms 30, 34 and the ends ofthe transverse structure 44 to temporarily resist accidental movementfrom the closed or opened positions.

In compliance with the statute, the invention described herein has beendescribed in language more or less specific as to structural features.It should be understood however, that the invention is not limited tothe specific features shown, since the means and construction shown, iscomprised only of the preferred embodiments for putting the inventioninto effect. The invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms ormodifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the amendedclaims, appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine ofequivalents.

I claim:
 1. An adjustable pocket or purse portable accessory that can bemanipulated into a closed, flat planar configuration and that can bemanipulated into an open, inverted V-shaped configuration and used tosupport a device with a display in a substantially diagonal position,said accessory comprising: a compact, clam shell-shaped housing with acenter storage area, said housing includes an upper case and a lowercase pivotally connected together, said upper case and said lower beingconfigured so said upper case and said lower case may be pivotedtogether to form a closed housing surrounding an inner cavity or pivotedapart to an inverted V-shaped configuration with an inside surfaces ofsaid upper case and an inside surface of said lower case being exposed,said upper case includes a means for supporting a display devicelongitudinally or transversely aligned over said upper case whendisposed in an inverted V-shaped configuration.
 2. The accessory asrecited in claim 1, wherein said means for supporting a devicelongitudinally or transversely aligned over said upper case is a lowerresting lip formed on said upper case.
 3. The accessory as recited inclaim 1, further including a friction gripping cover attached to saidlower resting lip to prevent slippage of said resting lip when saidhousing is disposed in an inverted V-shaped configuration.
 4. Theaccessory as recited in claim 1, wherein said upper case includes twoside arms separated by an opening and said lower case includes atransverse structure that fits into said opening, said side arms andsaid transverse structure include means for pivotally connecting saidupper case and said lower case together.
 5. The accessory, as recited inclaim 1, wherein the device is a cell phone or an MP3 player with avideo display.